Illusion apparatus



Aug. 7, 1956 G. M. MARECHAL, JR

ILLUSION APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1952 FIG-1 FIG-5 INVENTOR G/Pffl? M. M/IRfC/IALd/Z ATTORNEYS a?) United States Patent ILLUSION APPARATUS Greer M. Marchal, Jr., Dayton, Ohio Application May 26, 1952, Serial No. 290,011

5 Claims. (Cl. 272-8) This invention relates to illusion apparatus for magicians and other entertainers and more particularly to causing various objects apparently to materialize in a mysterious or unexplained manner within an apparently empty container during a magicians or conjuring performers demonstration or entertainment.

It will be understood that, in the performance of a so-called magic or conjuring trick or illusion wherein various objects are apparently caused mysteriously to appear to materialize within an apparently empty container, the objects either may be secretly introduced into the container after the container has been demonstrated to the audience to be empty or may by hidden within the container in such a way that the container appears to be empty notwithstanding the presence of objects hidden therein; e. g., by means of false bottoms or double walls or the like. If, however, it is attempted to perform such an illusion by using a container with a false bottom, the over-all outside dimensions of the container must be so much greater than the dimensions of the secret compartment within the false bottom (in order to obtain the appearance of an empty container) that only very highly compressible objects ((3. g., silk handkerchiefs, etc.) are available for truly effective use in order that a sufiicient quantity to fill the whole container may be hidden in the comparatively small false bottom. If, on the other hand, it is attempted to perform such an illusion by secretly introducing objects into the container after it has been shown to be empty, the size and quantity of objects is limited by the difficulty of keeping the introduction thereof hidden or secret and, furthermore, possible tipping or even inverting the objects as they are secretly introduced may preclude the use of uncovered glasses of liquid, full fish bowls, etc., which it may be desired to include in performing the illusion.

According to the present invention it has been dis covered that a suitable device may be constructed for performing an entertaining and mystifying illusion of the character described wherein a secret container of objects to be caused apparently to materialize may be temporarily hidden or made substantially invisible or unhoticed when placed within a suitably arranged open screen background member, and such member may be constructed so as to be unobtrusively disposed of without arousing the suspicions of the observers of the illusion when the temporary container-hiding function of such background member is accomplished. So the entire apparatus from which the objects are seen to materialize appears to be no larger than the secret container in which such objects were originally hidden, thus enhancing the entertaining and deceptive qualities of the. materializing illusion performance.

Accordingly it is one principal object of this invention to produce magicians illusionary apparatus for creating the. entertaining illusion of mysteriously causing various objects to materialize within an apparently empty container and having a hidden chamber for containing such objects to be caused to materialize, a background screen member within which the secret cham'ber may be hidden, and a visible container in which the materializing illusion appears to take place.

It is another object of this invention to produce a device for creating the entertaining illusion of mysteriously causing various objects to seem to materialize within an apparently empty container wherein the size of the entire visible portion of the device is not substantially greater than the size of the hidden container originally containing the objects to be caused apperantly to materialize.

Another object of this invention is to construct, for a device for creating the entertaining illusion of the character described, a background screen member which will etfect-ively cause the existence of a secret container to be unknown to or go unnoticed by observers and therea-"fter, when its background-supplying function is completed, may be unobtrusively disposed of in a manner that will not arouse the suspicions of the observers.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device for the performance of an entertaining illusion of the character described consisting of a secret container to enclose the objects to be materialized, a visible container which may be shown to be empty and thereafter in which the materializing illusion apparently occurs, and an unobtrusively disposable background supplying open screen member within which the hidden container will appear substantially invisible and which can be converted into some innocent appearing incidental accoutrement of the illusion demonstration for the purpose of removing the background screen member from attention as a necessary element whereby the illusion is accomplished.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for the performance of an entertaining illusion of the character described so constructed as to obviate immediately the suggestion that the objects to be so materialized might be hidden within the container as by false bottoms, double walls or the like.

Still an additional object of this invention is to provide a device for performing an illusion of the character described wherein a sufliciently large quantity of objects, other than collapsible objects, may be caused apparently to materialize to create the illusion desired and wherein bulky and spillable objects such as uncovered bowls or glasses of liquid and delicate objects such as live birds, small animals or blooming flowers and the like may be caused apparently to materialize without the necessity of tipping or inverting or even moving the secret container in which such objects are originally hidden.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the drawings and the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings which show now preferred embodiments of the invention and in which like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the three principal elements of a device embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a now preferred means for rendering the secret chamber containing the objects to be caused apparently to materialize invisible or unnoticed at the start of performing the illusion;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic detail view of one means for hiding the edges of the secret container;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic top view of the arrangement of Fig. 2'indicating the arrangement of the various elements to keep the secret chamber hidden fom observation by the audience;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the device which is 3 a preferred embodiment of this invention after it has been demonstrated to be apparently empty and as its appears as the materialization of the various objects is about to be disclosed by the entertainer; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the background supplying screen member formed into a cone as one means for unobtrusively disposing of the background supplying screen member after its background supplying function is completed.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the device which forms a now preferred embodiment of this invention comprises three principal elements. There is the secret container 10 for holding the various. objects subsequently to be caused apparently to materialize mysteriously within the device. The size, shape, dimensions and materials of construction of this secret container 10 depend primarily upon the size, shape and quantity of the objects which it is desired to cause magically to appear. Satisfactory results have been obtained, however, with secret container 10 in the form of a sheet metal cylinder approximately five inches in diameter and approximately twelve inches high. The top 11 of secret container 10 is open while the bottom 12 may be closed. The outside surface of container 10 is so finished as to reflect as little light as possible. Satisfactory results have been obtained in this connection by covering the outside surface of container 10 with jet black felt cloth, although a roughened or flocked flat black painted surface may also be used.

In addition to secret container 10 there is flexible background screen 15 which is constructed of a rectangular sheet of stiff bristol board, thin linoleum, sheet plastic, or the like of suflicient thickness and stiffness to support itself erect when formed into a partial cylinder as in Fig. 2 and yet flexible enough to be readily bent or rolled. The size of background screen 15 depends upon the size of secret container 10, the short side of background screen 15 being slightly longer than the height of secret container 10 and the long dimension of rectangular background screen 15 being sufiicient to admit of positioning background screen 15 around secret container 10 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. Satisfactory dimensions for background screen 15 used in conjunction with secret container 10 of the dimensions given above are fifteen inches by twenty-five inches.

Aflixed to one side of background screen 15 and extending beyond the short edge 16 thereof are ribbons or straps 17 and 18. Ribbon 17 is affixed immediately adjacent to the bottom edge of background screen 15 and ribbon 18 is aflixed a short distance below the top edge of background screen 15 as indicated in Fig. 1 so that the center line of ribbon 181's of a distance from the bottom edge of background screen 15 equal approximately to the height of secret container 10. As indicated by the numerals 19 on ribbons 17 and 18, means such as snap fasteners are provided on the ribbons so that the free end of each ribbon may be temporarily fastened to the fixed end thereof after background screen 15 has been rolled into a conical or cylindrical shape and the ribbons Wrapped around such cylinder or cone to retain background screen 15 in such rolled shapee. g., as in Fig. 6.

Adjacent the edge 20 of the short side of background screen 15 opposite to that at which the ribbons 17 and 18 are affixed are two eyelets or slits 21 and 22 in screen 15 through which ribbons 17 and 18 respectively may be threaded to pull the edges 16 and 20 of background screen 15 together.

The length of ribbons 17 and 18 extending beyond edge 16 of background screen 15 depends upon the over-all dimensions of screen 15 and upon whether it is desired to roll screen 15 into a conical or a cylindrical shape as hereinafter explained. Generally, when the screen 15 is rolled into the partial cylinder indicated in Fig. 2 and standing with the edges 16 and 20 separated by a distance slightly less than the diameter of secret container 10, ribbon 18 should be sufficiently long to reach across the opening between edges 16 and 20, through slit or eyelet 22, back to the center of the opening between edges 16 and 2t), and finally to dangle downwardly at the center of the opening until it at least reaches ribbon 17 across the bottom of opening between edges 16 and 20 as depicted in Fig. 2 and in detail Fig. 3. The width of ribbons 17 and 18 for the size of device mentioned above may satisfactorily be from 1 /2 to 2 inches.

The outside surface of background screen 15 shown in Fig. 1 and to which the ribbons 17 and 18 are attached may satisfactorily be any desired color, but the reverse surface of background screen 15 (i. e., the inside surface in Fig. 2) is flat black and roughened so that the minimum of the light falling thereon will be reflected. Just as with the surface of secret container 10, this inside surface of background screen 15 is covered with jet black felt cloth or other rough black finish.

The third major element of the device as described is the visible container-forming member 30. This member may satisfactorily be made of the same material as background screen 15. Member 39 is also rectangular in shape with its short side approximately the same length as the height of secret container 10. The long dimension of visible container-forming member 30 is sufficient to enable the member to be rolled into a cylinder that will fit loosely over and concentrically around secret container 10. Ribbons or straps 31 and 32 are affixed to visible container-forming member 30, as in the case of background sheet 15. Appropriate fastening means such as snap fasteners indicated by the numerals 33 enable ribbons 31 and 32 to be wrapped around visible container-forming member 30 when it is rolled into cylindrical shape and fastened to retain it in that form as in Fig. 5.

In the operation of the device as above described, the various elements are prearranged secretly out of sight of the audience for whose entertainment the illusion to be performed. The secret container 10 is positioned on a tray or table and filled with whatever objects it is desired to magically produce therefrom. Background screen 15 is then rolled into a partially complete cylinder with the black surface thereof toward the inside and positioned around secret chamber 10 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4 with the opening between edges 16 and 20 toward the audience. Secret container it) is positioned offcenter within the partial cylinder formed from background screen 15, being placed nearer the side of the partial cylinder opposite the opening between edges 16 and 20, as in Fig. 4. The ribbon 18 is placed across the top portion of the opening between edges 16 and 20, is threaded through slit 22, and is then doubled bacl: upon and draped over itself to dangle downward at the center of the opening between edges 16 and 20 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. Ribbon 17 is placed across the bottom of the opening between edges 16 and 2t), threaded through slit 21 and draped casually upon itself as in Fig. 2. The edges 16 and 20 are separated by a distance slightly less than the diameter of chamber it").

When secret container 10 and background screen 15 are arranged as just described, secret container 10 will be substantially invisible to anyone gazing into the partial cylinder through the opening between edges 16 and 2G. That is to say, since both the secret container 10 and the inside surface of the background screen 15 are covered with substantially nonrefleeting black fclt cloth, the curved felt-covered portion of secret container 10 that is actually in view through the opening between edges 16 and 20 will blend with and appear to be or be mistaken for the curved felt covered inside surface of the background screen opposite the opening between edges 16 and 20. Since the edges 16 and 20 are separated by a distance less than the diameter of secret container 10, the vertical edges of secret container 10 are hidden from view by the edges 16 and 20. The top and bottom edges of secret container 10 are hidden from view by the two ribbons 17 and 18 as they cross the opening amass:

between edges 16 and 20 as indicated by Figs. 3 and 4. Further interference with a clear view of the interior of the partial cylinder is provided by the dangling portion of ribbon 18.

Under these circumstances the minimal amount of light reflected by the black felt covering of container prevents the eye of an observer from effectively judging the distance between the visible surface of container 10 and the opening between edges 16 and 20. Furthermore, since all the edges of container 10 are effectively hidden from view by the ribbons and by the edges 16 and 20 and since a really complete view through the opening is prevented by the dangling portion of ribbon 18, there is no visual reference point from which the eye of an observer can deduce the presence of secret container 10 within the partial cylinder formed from background sheet 15. The result is that an optical and psychological illusion is created whereby it appears to an observer that he can clearly see all the inside of the partial cylinder formed from background sheet and that such partial cylinder is substantially empty. Since the illusion utilizing this device is usually performed from a stage or at least upon a table before a seated audience so that the top opening of the partial cylinder formed from background sheet 15 is above the eye level of members of the audience, a view into the top opening is effectively prevented so that the only View into the interior of the partial cylinder is through the opening between edges 16 and 20 thereof. I

Prior to the performance of the illusion and after the secret container 10 and background sheet 15 have been arranged as above described, visible container-forming member 30 is placed on the table or tray beside the partial cylinder in such a manner as to suggest a casual rather than a studied arrangement of the various elements.

When it is desired to perform the illusion of causing various objects apparently to materialize in an entertaining and mysterious manner from an apparently empty container, visible container-forming member 30 is shown to the audience and demonstrated to be nothing more than a sheet of material with ribbons 31 and 32 attached. The container-forming member is then rolled into a cylinder and the ribbons 31 and 32 are wrapped around such cylinder and fastened with snap fasteners 33 to retain the container-forming member 30 in such cylindrical shape as shown in Fig. 5. Snap fasteners 33 are so placed on ribbons 31 and 32 that the cylinder formed from visible container-forming member 30 has an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of secret container 10 so that the cylinder may be readily and unhesitatingly slipped over and concentrically around secret container 10.

When the cylinder is formed from visible containerforming member 30 and shown obviously to be empty, it is dropped over and concentrically around secret container 10 as the latter stands within the partial cylinder formed from background screen 15. Since the presence of secret container 10 is not suspected by the audience and since the diameters of container 10 and visible container 30 are so correlated that the visible container 30 slips easily and unhesitatingly over secret container 10, the efiect of the positioning of visible container 30 around secret container 10 appears to the observers to be that the performer has merely dropped the cylinder formed from visible container-forming member 30 in an upright position concentrically within the partial cylinder formed from background screen 15. The position of visible container 30 around secret container 10 and within background screen member 15 is indicated by the dotted line 30 in Fig. 4.

When the container 30 is thus in position concentrically around container 10 and, consequently, completely hiding the latter from view, background screen 15 is removed from around secret container 10 and visible container 30 so that the arrangement is substantially 13S indi' cated by Fig. 5. Background screen 15 is then unrolled and demonstrated to the observers to be merely a flexible sheet of material with ribbons 17 and 18 affixed to one side thereof.

Since the background screen 15 has now fulfilled its function of supplying a suitable background against which secret container 10 may be temporarily hidden or caused to appear substantially invisible, background screen 15 must now be disposed of in an unobtrusive manner to the end that the container in which various objects are to be caused magically to materialize may appear to be no larger than is necessary to hold the various objects. If the background screen 15 were left in its original position while the objects to be caused to materialize were disclosed, the effect or appearance to the observers would be that the objects were produced from a container .approximately fifteen inches high and eight or nine inches in diameter-i. e., the partial cylinder formed by background screen 15-whereas, if the background screen is removed, the same objects may be produced from a container which appears to be but twelve inches high and slightly more than five inches in diameteri. e., the visible container 30.

If, however, the background screen 15 were merely removed and cast aside when its background supplying and hiding function had been fulfilled, suspicions and questions would then be raised in the minds of the observers as to the reason for its existence in the first place and the entertaining deceptive magical or mysterious effect of the materializing illusion would thus be jeopardized, the observers being able thereby to guess or deduce that the background supplying screen 15 had been used to hide or obstruct from their view some secret container or for some other secret or ulterior function. For this reason background screen 15 is so constructed that it may have an additional function in connection with performing the illusion to serve as an excuse or tacit suspicion allaying explanation for its existence during its background supplying function to the end that the background supplying function of screen 15 and the hiding thereby of secret container 10 during the preliminary part of the illusion performance may not be deduced or recognized by observers.

One such additional excuse providing function for background screen 15 is indicated by Fig. 6. This represents one form of unobtrusively disposing of background screen 15 when its background supplying function has been ful filled; namely, rolling background screen 15 into a cone and retaining it in that form by means of ribbons 17 and 18 and snap fasteners 19. Such a cone can be used by the performer of the illusion as a handy receptacle to hold the various objects which he apparently causes to materialize within the visible container 30, the performer removing each such object from the visible container 30 as described below, displaying it to the audience, and depositing it temporarily in the cone formed from background screen 15.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the use of any one particular secondary excuse-providing function for background screen 15, the cone receptacle explained above being merely one satisfactory such secondary function. Thus background supplying screen 15 may be rolled into a cylinder instead of a cone .and such cylinder slipped over and concentrically around visible container 30 as if the supposedly supernatural powers apparently being demonstrated by the performer of the illusion required a double container in which to cause the apparently magical materialization to take place. Or the background screen 15 may be folded according to predetermined creases and fastened with ribbons 17 and 18 into a small stand or taboret on which the concentric arrangement of secret container 10 and visible container 30 as shown in Fig. 5 are positioned 7 apparently for the purpose of separating the container from any possible trap doors or the like in the table top before causing the apparent materialization to occur. Or background screen 15 may be folded and fastened with its ribbons into a basket-shaped receptacle to receive the various objects to be removed from secret container 10. Thus, the exact configuration of the secondary or excuse-providing function of background screen 15 after its hiding and background-supplying function is fulfilled may be selected as desired provided only that such secondary function appears to be sufficiently connected with and incidental to the performing of the materializing illusion to provide the necessary tacit and suspicion- "allaying explanation or excuse for the use and existence of the background screen 1.5 during the preliminary part of the illusion performance when such screen 15 functions as a secret hiding place for secret container 10 by providing a background against which container 19 becomes substantially invisible or unnoticed or hidden.

When the cone has been formed from background screen 15, the performer may utter such commands or so-called magic words or make such gestures as the dictates of his showmanship indicate as a preliminary to the climax or revealing the apparent materialization of the various objects within the secret container 10. Thereupon the performer reaches into the top of secret container 10 as it rests concentrically Within visible container 30 as in Fig. and removes the objects that have been placed therein thus creating the illusion that such objects have somehow mysteriously or Without obvious explanation suddenly materialized or come into being inside of visible container 30 which was formed right before the observers eyes and seen by the observers to be entirely empty only a moment earlier.

The size of the device may be altered through extremely wide limits determined only by the objects the apparently magical materialization of which it is desired to cause. Thus, while the dimensions given above will be found satisfactory for the general purpose production of silk handkerchiefs, flowers, packs of cards, small animals or birds, and other small objects commonly utilized as a part of a magicians or conjuring performers entertainment or demonstration, the invention may also be satisfactorily used for a large size device to be used for the apparently mysterious or magical appearance of a live person, particularly a young lady. In such a case it may be convenient to have the secret container constructed from a black cloth bottomless sleeve which would fit snugly over the young lady instead of from sheet metal covered with cloth as described above. Then the magical appearance of the young lady would be revealed by hoisting the visible container 30 and the bottomless black sleeve ofi the young lady simultaneously at the proper climatic moment instead of removing the young lady from the top of visible container 3%.

In addition it may be desirable to have the secret container 10 itself constructed to resemble some object that might be caused to materialize within visible container 30. Thus, the side of container 16 which initially rests toward the back of background screen and away from the view of the audience may be painted to simulate a tin of some popular canned food or beverage. in this case the last object removed from visible container 34 would be secret container 10 itself turned so that its disguised or simulating surface is toward the audience and its black and nonreflecting surface is away from the audience thus leaving container completely and actually empty at the finale of the illusion so that subsequent inspection by observers of the visible container 30 will give no clue to the method whereby the deceptive illusion was accomplished. Furthermore, if it is desired to produce uncovered glasses of liquid, filled fishbowls or the like, it may be convenient to have secret container 10 constructed without a bottom so that the glass or bowls can be revealed at the climax of the illusion by lifting both visible container 30 and'secret chamber 10 off the glasses or bowls rather than by removing the glasses or bowls from the top of visible container 30 and secret container 10.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that this invention presents a device that possesses ease of manufacture and operation either for those skilled in the art of professional entertaining or such amateur hobbyists as may find enjoyment from the mastery and performance of so-called magical tricks or illusionary deceptions, and, further, which device possesses features heretofore unknown for enhancing the mysterious appearance of the materializing illusion and for minimizing the possibility of the true method of modus operandi being deduced by the observers to the embarrassment of the performer and to the detriment of the entertainment value of the illusion.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Illusion apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical member adapted to receive an object to be concealed therein and having at least one open end, a light-absorbing exterior surface on said cylindrical member, a second member adapted to be formed into an open screen spaced from and partially enclosing said cylindrical member, edge portions on said second member defining a vertical opening for viewing the interior of said open screen, a light-absorbing interior surface on said second member of substantially identical light-absorbing characteristics with said exterior surface of said cylindrical member, said interior and exterior surfaces cooperating to render said cylindrical member substantially invisible when in assembled relation within said open screen, means for retaining said second member in the form of said open screen with said edges spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of said cylindrical member, and means for additionally forming and retaining said second member in a form other than said open screen form.

2. Illusion apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical member adapted to receive an object to be concealed therein and having at least one open end, a light-absorbing exterior surface on said cylindrical member, a second member adapted to be formed into an open screen spaced from and partially enclosing said cylindrical member, edge portions on said second member defining a vertical opening for viewing the interior of said open screen, a light-absorbing interior surface on said second member of substantially identical light-absorbing characteristics with said exterior surface of said cylindrical member, said interior and exterior surfaces cooperating to render said cylindrical member substantially invisible when in assembled relation within said open screen, means for retaining said second member in the form of said open screen with said edges spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of said cylindrical member, and means for additionally forming and maintaining said second member in the form of a container.

3. Illusion apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a cylindrical member adapted to receive an object to be concealed therein and having at least one open end, a light-absorbing exterior surface on said cylindrical member, a second member adapted to be formed into an open screen spaced from and partially enclosing said cylindrical member, edge portions on said second member defining a vertical opening for viewing the interior of said open screen, a light-absorbing interior surface on said second member of substantially identical light-absorbing characteristics with said exterior surface of said cylindrical member, said interior and exterior surfaces cooperating to render said cylindrical member substantially invisible when in assembled relation within said open screen, means for retaix'ing said second member in the form of said open screen with said edges spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of said cylindrical member, means for additionally forming and retaining said second member in a form other than said open screen form, and means for hiding the ends of said cylindrical member when in assembled relation within said open screen and viewed through the opening between said edges thereof.

4. Illusion apparatus of the character described adapted to receive an object to be concealed and later revealed in an illusion performance comprising an inner screen adapted to be stood on edge and to define and enclose an object-receiving space for concealing said object, an outer open screen adapted to be stood on edge spaced from and partially enclosing said inner screen, a substantially lightabsorbing exterior surface on said inner screen, an interior surface on said outer screen of substantially identical lightabsorbing characteristics, edge portions on said outer screen for defining a vertically extending opening therein when in assembled position, means for forming and retaining said outer screen in assembled position partially enclosing said inner screen with said edges spaced apart by a distance less than the horizontal dimension of said inner screen, and means for converting said outer screen to a configuration different from said open screen form.

5. In illusion apparatus of the character described adapted to receive an object concealed and later revealed during an illusion performance and having a container for concealing said object, the combination comprising an open screen member adapted for partially surrounding said container, an interior surface on said screen member of predetermined light-reflecting characteristics substantially identical with the light-reflecting characteristics of said container, edge portions on said open screen member for defining a vertically extending opening for viewing the interior thereof when in assembled position partially surrounding said container, means for retaining said open screen in said assembled position with said edges spaced apart by a distance less than the horizontal dimension of References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Washburn June 10, 1913 OTHER REFERENCES Magic (Hopkins), published by Munn & Co., New York, 1906 (pages 129 and 130 relied on). 

